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Graham leads Bulldog girls to win; Bruins hand Butte boys first loss
On a night when Butte High’s boys’ basketball team suffered its first loss of the season, Cadence Graham and the Butte High’s girls held off a hot-shooting Helena Capital team.
The Butte girls topped Capital 69-57 at the Richardson Gym, and the Bruin boys beat Butte High 47-43 in Helena. Both games counted in Western AA standings.
Butte High’s teams will take on Helena High Saturday. The boys’ play in Butte, and the girls head to Helena.
GIRLS
Butte High 69, Helena Capital 57
Whenever the Bulldogs needed a big bucket, Grham was there.The Bulldog junior guard poured in 28 points to lead the Bulldogs to their third straight victory. She scored 13 of those points in an intense first quarter. Graham then tossed in seven points in the fourth quarter to help the Bulldogs hang on.
Butte led 20-17 after the first quarter and 37-28 at halftime. Butte High took a 49-42 advantage into the final frame.
Allie Becker and Saege Grey added nine points for Butte High, while Emma Johnson and Elli Graham each scored eight. Franki Salusso tossed in seven.
Autumn Clary and Kendallyn Schad also contributed for the Bulldogs, who ran their record to 5-3 overall and 3-0 in conference play.
Avery Mergenthaler sank three 3-pointers and scored 17 points to lead the Bruins. Ali Miller added three long balls and 15 points. In all, the Bruins scored 30 points from behind the 3-point line.
Andreah Bachmeier, Madi Emmert and Tatum Campbell each scored five points for Capital, and Chloe LaFromboise tossed in five. The Bruins fell to 2-7 and 1-3.
HELENA CAPITAL (2-7, 1-3) — Chloe LaFromboise 1 2-2 5, Ali Miller 6 0-2 15, Madi Emmert 2 1-2 6, Avery Mergenthaler 5 4-5 17, Tatum Campbell 2 0-0 6, Andreah Bachmeier 2 2-2 6, Brynn Lawler 0 0-0 0, Cailin Mohar 0 0-0 0, Seeley Schwenk 1 0-0 2. Totals 19 9-13 57.
BUTTE HIGH (5-3, 3-0) — Allie Becker 3 3-7 9, Cadence Graham 9 6-9 28, Autumn Clary 0 0-0 0, Franki Salusso 2 3-4 7, Emma Johnson 3 1-2 8, Elli Graham 3 1-5 8, Saege Grey 2 4-5 9, Kendallyn Schad 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 18-32 69.
Capital 17 11 14 15 — 57
Butte 20 17 12 20 — 69
3-point goals — Capital 10 (Miller 3, Mergenthaler 3, Campbell 2, LaFromboise, Emmert), Butte7 (C. Graham 4, E. Graham, Grey, Johnson). Fouls — Capital 26, Butte 16. Fouled out — Lawler, Miller. Technicals — none.
BOYS
Helena Capital 47, Butte High 43HELENA — Landon Levang scored a game-high 14 points, and the Bruins beat the Bulldogs on the boards. Wil Spotorno, Carson Toivonen and Kyle Bachmeier each scored nine points for Helena.
Hudson Luedtke and Cayde Stajcar each scored 10 points to lead the Bulldogs.
Luedtke sank a 30-foot shot while being fouls with 8.9 seconds left. Instead of the shot tying the game at 45 and sending the Butte star to the line for two, however, officials ruled the foul was on the floor and before the shot.
Luetke made the first of his two free throws, and missed his second. A battle for the rebound went out of bounds, and it the ball was awarded to Capital.
Butte High was force to foul, and Capital put the game away with two more free throws.
Brady Hanson scored eight points, and Josh Liston returned to the Bulldog lineup and scored six points. Mitch Verlanic netted three points, Kendell Noctor scored two, and Ryan Hanson tossed in one.
James Pearson and Rhett Arntson also contributed for Butte High, which fell to 7-1 overall and 2-1 in conference. Captial improved to 5-4 and 2-2.
BUTTE HIGH (7-1, 2-1) — Cayde Stajcar 5 0-2 10, Hudson Luedtke 2 5-7 10, Mitch Verlanic 1 0-0 3, Josh Liston 2 0-0 6, Brady Hanson 4 0-0 8, Rhett Arntson 0 0-0 0, James Pearston 0 0-0 0, Kendell Noctor 1 0-0 2, Ryan Hanson 0 1-2 1. Totals 15 6-11 43.
HELENA CAPITAL (5-4, 2-2) — Kobe Gamradt 1 0-0 2, Kyle Bachmeier 3 1-4 9, Carson Toivonen 4 0-0 9, Landon Levang 5 2-2 14, Wil Spotorno 3 2-2 9, Joey Mergenthaller 0 0-0 0, Drew Almquist 0 0-0 0, Brett Buehler 0 0-0 0. Totals 17 6-7 47.
Butte 5 13 11 14 — 43
Capital 6 11 16 14 — 47
3-point goals — Butte 4 (Liston 2, Luedtke, Verlanic), Capital 6 Bachmeier 2, Lavang 2, Toivonen, Spotorno). Fouls — Butte 18, Capital 14. Fouled out — none. -
Luedtke fuels fast Bulldog start
Maroons, Broncs go down to wire; Peoples, Choquette are newest Digs
Butte High’s boys’ basketball team has earned some national attention this season, but it has been for the wrong reason.
People around the country are talking about Shawn Wetzel, the Bulldog volunteer assistant who was told he was not approved by the school district to coach shortly after he was attacked by a parent while refereeing at a youth basketball tournament in Anaconda.
Whether or not that decision and attack are related is not known, and the school district has stayed silent.
So, the fact that the Bulldogs are off to their best start in 36 years has kind of flown under the radar. The Bulldogs are 7-0 for the first time since the 1989-90 season. That was the season the Bulldogs fell in the Class AA State championship game for the second straight year.
The No. 1 reason for that is that Bulldog senior guard Hudson Luedtke is once again making a strong case that he is the best player in the state.
The 6-foot-2 Luedtke led the Class AA in scoring (19.2 points per game) and assists (6.1) last season. He is leading the way in both categories again this year, but his points average is considerably higher.
After scoring 29 points on back-to-back nights in wins over Flathead and Glacier Friday and Saturday, Luedtke, who became the all-time leading scorer in the Butte High boys’ program last season, is averaging 28.3 points per game. Luedtke has led the Bulldogs in scoring in all seven games, and he is well on his way to being named All-State for the fourth straight year.
Luedtke is also a four-time All-State player in football for the Bulldogs. So, not only is he making a case to be the best Butte High basketball player of all time, he is making a pretty good case that he is the greatest Bulldog of all time.
He has been getting a lot of help from his teammates, too. Much of that help comes from two players who did not even go out for the basketball team the last couple of seasons.
Seniors Cayde Stajcar, Montana’s first Gatorade Player of the Year in baseball, and Mitch Verlanic, an All-State football player, joined the Bulldogs team this season. They have been key defensive performers all season. In Kalispell, both broke out on the offensive side.
Verlanic, who scored 24 points through Butte High’s first five games, scored a total of 25 in Butte’s two wins in Kalispell. That includes sinking seven 3-pointers on the weekend.
Stajcar poured in 12 points in Saturday’s win over Glacier.
Senior Rhett Arntson has played much bigger than his 5-8 frame, too. He scored 13 points Saturday and has been money for the Dogs from behind the 3-point line.
Of course, 6-9 sophomore Brady Hanson has made a thunderous impact for the Bulldogs. He must lead the state in backboard-shaking dunks.
Butte High is hoping to get a boost this week. Senior Josh Liston, who has missed the last three games with a toe injury, is expected to return as Butte High takes on Helena Capital and Helena High.
Butte High is the lone undefeated team in the Class AA. The Bulldogs are 2-0 in Western AA play. The Bulldogs travel to Capital on Thursday before hosting Helena Saturday at the Richardson Gym.
On the girls’ side, the Bulldogs are also 2-0 after a sweep in Kalispell. The Graham sisters — junior Cadence and freshman Ellison — each scored 16 points as the Bulldogs got past Glacier on Saturday.
Butte High also got a career-high 16 points from Autumn Clary, a junior guard who could best described as a defensive pest. Before going to Kalispell, Clary totaled 16 points through five games. She scored four in Friday’s win over Flathead.
Seniors Frani Salusso and Emma Johnson, juniors Allie Becker and Kendallyn Schad, and freshman Saege Grey also scored big buckets for the Bulldogs in Kalispell.
The Bulldog girls will host Capital on Thursday at the Richardson Gym. They head to Helena High on Saturday.
Another BC-Frenchtown classic
There are few certainties in life. One thing you can usually count on, however, is that the game will go down to the wire when the Butte Central boys play Frenchtown in basketball.
That was definitely the case Tuesday night at the Maroon Activities Center. BC junior GG Fantini drove for a three-point play with .9 seconds on the clock as the Maroons pulled off a 74-71 victory. That came after Frenchtown star Hank Smith hit a 3-poitner to tie the game.
If you were surprised by that, you should be. Almost all their games are decided in the final minute or in overtime.
Both games between the Maroons and Broncs last season were nailbiters. Frenchtown won 62-57 in Frenchtown, and BC won 78-75 in Butte.
Smith, a 6-6 junior joined Butte Central junior Joshua Sutton with 30 points in the game that was back and forth throughout. Smith, who is a threat to score from anywhere on the court, entered the game averaging 26.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.
Sutton is now averaging 22.3 points per game.
Jaxon Hiatt, Ryan Peoples, Cade Kelly, Noah Sutton, Henley Mansanti and Burkley Lakkala also contributed for the Maroons.
The Maroons will face another tough test Saturday when they head to Hamilton to take on the other Broncs of the Southwestern A.
Central’s girls will be in Hamilton, too, for the doubleheader. BC will be looking to bounce back from a tough loss Tuesday at Frenchtown.
Eighth-grader Jorydn Samson led the Maroons in scoring with seven points. That marks three games in a row in which she led the team or tied for the team lead in scoring.
Zayonna Otherbull, Rylee Forbes, Braelyn Schelin, Arika Stajcar and Mila Carriger also scored for the Maroons, who are hoping to get back injured junior guard Kenzie McQueary. She has missed the last six games and is working to return to the team.
Bulldogs head to Jug Beck
One of the biggest and best wrestling tournaments of the season is on tap for Friday and Saturday as Missoula Sentinel hosts the Jug Beck Rocky Mountain Classic.
Action begins at 11 a.m. on Friday and resumes at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday. The Bulldogs will send junior varsity wrestlers to the John Fisher Invitational, which begins at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at Missoula Big Sky.
The Bulldog boys head to Missoula after going 1-1 against the Kalispell schools Saturday at the Butte High old gym.
Butte High beat Glacier 51-30 and fell to a power Flathead squad, 55-22.
Against Glacier, Crew O’Connor, Reveles McEwen, Ryder McEwen, and Cameron Fleege won by way of the pin for the Bulldogs. Caden Phillips won by decision, and Renzy LeProwse, Austen Belisario, Bradey Doyle and Bode Hazlett won by forfeit.
Against Flathead, Keegan Hunt, Ryder McEwen and LeProwse won by pin. Doyle won by major decision.
Butte High’s girls beat Glacier 54-18 and fell 48-36 to Flathead.
Jessica Blow, Loretta Matteson pinned their opponents in both matches. Peyton Liva and Mattie Stepan also grabbed pins against Flathead. Lilyi Malone, Adalie Hazlett, Brooke Johnson, Sage Queer, Ryle Radcliffe, Allie Ballenski and Stepan won by forfeit against Glacier.
Butte High’s girls will compete at the Hellgate Invitational Friday and Saturday in Missoula. Wrestling begins at 11 am. Friday and Saturday.
Butte Central will compete at the John Fisher Invite. The Maroons sent four wrestlers — two boys and two girls — to the Madison Invite last Friday and Saturday in Rexburg, Idaho.
Amira Gonzales and Felicity Stevens competed for the BC girls. Gonzales placed sixth at 125 pounds. She had to forfeit the fifth-place match because of injury.
Jace Rauch and Kelsen Brackett competed for Central’s boys. Both won a match but did not place.
For more on Butte High’s duals with the Kalispell schools, check out Bruce Sayler’s story on ButteSports.com.
Bulldogs sixth at Splash
Butte High’s boys’ and girls’ swimming teams placed sixth at the Butte January Splash Saturday at the Butte Family YMCA.
In all, 13 teams competed.
On the girls’ side, freshman Adalie Gronchowski placed second in the 50-yard freestyle and fifth in the 100 backstroke. Senior Tatum Trefts placed third in the 100 breaststroke and eighth in the 200 individual medley.
Junior Alaina Grochowski finished sixth in the 200 IM and seventh in the 100 freestyle. Sophomore Elly Rumlper took ninth in the 100 breaststroke.
Olivia Thurmond, Trefts, Alaina Grochowski and Adalie Grochowski swam to third place in the 400 freestyle relay. The same girls placed fourth in the 200 free relay.
Junior Gage Plum took fifth in the 500 freestyle for the Butte High boys. Senior Nathan Stone placed seventh in the 100 freestyle, and freshman Alex Sonnemann placed eight in the 100 backstroke.
Sophomore Tucker Kissell took 2 seconds off his best time to place ninth in the 100 freestyle, and sophomore Elgin Hoar took 10th in the 100 butterfly.
Sonnemann, Ayvahn Mann, Gunar Benson and Stone placed fifth in the 200 freestyle relay. Grayson Lynch, Hoar, Kissell and Plum placed sixth in the 400 free relay.
“I am very proud of how everyone swam,” Bulldog coach Lynn Shrader said. “They were competing and trying to get a personal-best time in every event.”
Butte Central also competed at the event. Tia Thompson led the BC girls, placing seventh in the 100 breaststroke. Morgan Hardy took 11th in the 200 freestyle and 12th in the 100 breaststroke, and Arwen Regester placed 15th in the 100 breaststroke.
On the boys’ side, Connor Hardy took ninth in the 100 backstroke and 15th in the 100 breaststroke. Shamus Peck finished 10th in the 100 butterfly and 15th in the 50 freestyle.
The Maroons and Bulldogs will compete in Great Falls on Saturday. They will be back in Butte for the Mining City Invite on Jan. 24.
Peoples, Choquette sign with Tech
Butte Central senior Ryan Peoples and Butte High senior Chase Choquette are the newest Orediggers.
Peoples signed to play football at Montana Tech during a ceremony Wednesday morning at Butte Central. Choquette signed to play golf with the Orediggers Friday in a ceremony at Butte High.
Peoples is a standout in football and basketball for the Maroons. He passed for 1,705 yards and 19 touchdowns while leading the Maroons to their first playoff appearance since 2019 last season. He was selected to play in the Montana East-West Shrine Game, which will be played in Butte in June.
Choquette tied for 18th place at the Class AA State tournament at the Butte Country Club in October. In June, he tied for third place at the Montana State Men’s Amateur Championship at the Missoula Country Club.
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Central boys top Broncs in thriller, Maroon girls fall on road to Frenchtown
The boys’ basketball teams from Butte Central and Frenchtown put on another thrilling display Tuesday night at the Maroon Activities Center.
BC edged the Broncs 74-71 on an old-fashion 3-point play by GG Fantini with 9 tenths of a second left at the Maroon Activities Center. Meanwhile, the Frenchtown girls topped BC 55-18 in a Southwestern A game in Frenchtown.
Both BC teams will be on the road Saturday to take on Hamilton.
BOYS
Butte Central 74, Frenchtown 55
Fantini made a play for the ages to end a game for the ages.Hank Smith, a 6-foot-6 junior, sank a baseline 3-pointer to tie the game at 71. Central coach Brodie Kelly called timeout, and the clock was set with 7 ticks left in the game.
BC got the ball to Joshua Sutton, who poured in 30 points for the Maroons. He got past half court and passed to Fantini.
Fantini drove baseline and scored while crashing into Frenchtown defender Henry Griffin. The Broncs wanted a charge, but video clearly shows that Fantini left his feet before Griffin was set.
Fantini sank the free throw, and the Broncs could not get off a competitive shot at the buzzer.
That capped a wild, back-and-forth game between the two rivals used to wild games.
Sutton connected on four 3-pointers and was 6 for 6 from the free throw line in the win. Jaxon Hiatt added 16 points for BC, and Fantini finished with 11. Ryan Peoples scored six points, Cade Kelly hit two huge 3-pointers to score six points, and Noah Sutton tossed in three.
Henly Mansanti and Burkley Lakkala also contributed for the Maroons, who improved to 7-1 overall and 2-0 in Southwestern A play.
Smith scored 30 for the Broncs, who fell to 5-3 and 0-1. Unfortunately, the point totals in the official book do not add up correctly for the Frenchtown players, so a boxscore is not available.
Girls
Frenchtown 55, Butte Central 18
Mason Quinn had a huge game, pouring in 21 points in just three quarters of action to lead the Broncs in the victory.Jezzy Palmer and Laney Holleran each added eight points, and Blake Hardy scored seven for the Broncs, who led 36-13 at halftime.
Jordyn Samson scored seven points for BC, which got four from Rylee Forbes, three from Arika Stajcar, two from Mila Carriger and one from Zayonna Otherbull and Braelyn Scheliin. Evyn Smith, Caden Tippett, Marly Mansanti, Jaedyn Maldonado and Luci Fantini also contributed for the Maroons, who fell to 3-5 overall and 1-1 in league play.
The Broncs improved to 6-2 and 2-0.
BUTTE CENTRAL (3-5, 1-1) — Jordyn Samson 2 3-3 7, Zayonna Otherbull 0 1-4 1, Rylee Forbes 2 0-0 4, Braelynn Schelin 0 1-2 1, Arika Stajcar 1 1-2 3, Evyn Smith 0 0-0 0, Marly Mansanti 0 0-0 0, Jaedyn Maldonado 0 0-0 0, Mila Carriger 1 0-0 2, Luci Fantini 0 0-0 0, Caden Tippett 0 0-0 0. Totals 6 6-11 18.
FRENCHTOWN (6-2, 2-0) — Mason Quinn 7 2-2 21, Jezzy Palmer 3 1-3 8, Laney Holleran 3 2-4 8, Ryan Lucier 2 0-0 4, Blake Hardy 3 0-0 7, Iris Arlint 1 0-0 2, Halle Zemliska 0 0-0 0, Sophia Lebsock 0 0-0 0, Addy Hanes 0 0-0 0, Henley Harris 1 0-0 3. Totals 21 5-9 55.
Central 9 4 3 2 — 18
Frenchtown 15 21 8 11 — 55
3-point goals — BC 0, FT 8 (Quinn 5, Palmer, Hardy, Harris). Fouls — BC 5, FT 8. Fouled out — none. Technicals — none. -
It was a game that I could not miss
Saturday was my daughter Maizee’s 16th birthday. It was also the date of the biggest football game of the last 40 years for crazy Chicago Bears fans like me.
You can probably see where this is going.
Maizee is my spirt animal. I’ve been calling her that for years because she is the one person who gets more than anyone else. We have some seriously deep conversations, and she routinely roasts me better than Nikki Glaser making fun of Gronk.
She even looks a little bit like me, and we are alike in so many ways. Except for one.
Maizee has no idea how I can be such a passionate fan of a football team made up of dozens of players and coaches who do not even know I exist.
That is true despite that fact that our first meaningful moment together was watching the Arizona Cardinals beat the Green Bay Packers in an overtime playoff game, too. It was the day she was born, and I rocked her in the hospital as I watched the game.
I jumped out of the chair and danced around the room as the Cardinals scored the defensive touchdown to walk the game off. I was so happy that my baby girl was born on one of my favorite days — one when the Packers lose out in the playoffs.
Maybe me waking her up by yelling about football she was about 5 hours old is something that left a mark because Maizee has no interest in any sport.
That makes her just like her mother and older sister.
The women in my life do not get my obsession with the Chicago Bears or, to a lesser degree, the Boston Red Sox. They certainly do not understand why I yell and scream at the TV while I watch them.
They do not get why I must watch every single Bears game, even when they are near the end of a losing streak that reached double digits. So, they could not understand why I had to watch the Bears and Packers play in the playoffs on Maizee’s birthday.
They do not get that the Bears are so much more than a football team to me. They are a connection to my childhood and part of my overall identity.
That identity began sometime in the late 1970s. That is when I decided I was going to be just like my hero — my dad — and cheer for the Bears. He was a fan because he loved watching Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers play football.
Likewise, I loved Walter Payton, even though I rarely got to watch him play. I just liked the way his name sounded. His last name is so cool that it made his old-timer first name seem cool, too. I dressed up as him for Halloween at least twice.
I loved the Bears logos, and I loved their colors. My grandma Jean even made me a navy blue, orange and white Afghan. It is still one of my most prized possessions, nearly nine years after she passed.
The Bears started to show signs of life late in the 1983 season, and that meant that we finally got to watch the Bears on television in our area.
The Bears really started to get good in 1984, and they shuffled the way to the Super Bowl title in 1985. They had the Punky QB, the Refrigerator and, of course, Sweetness. Watching that team win and the way that they won hooked me like a gambler who won big the first time he pulled the slot.
For years, it was like I was chasing that feeling I had when I was 11 years old and watching the 1985 Bears.
Being a Bears fan these past 35 years has been difficult, to say the least. We had our years in the 1980s, but things started to really go downhill in 1989. That is when the Packers torture began with the Instant Replay Game, the greatest sports injustice since the 1972 Olympics gold medal basketball game.
The torture really got bad when Brett Favre rolled into the division. It got unbearable when Aaron Rodgers replaced Favre. It was like being handed over from one bully to a much larger and meaner bully.
I watched almost every one of those games, too, and I had to take a ton of crap from Packers fans the whole time. They are the worst, even though they are almost universally nice.
Do you know how bad it is to be looked down upon by people who were fake cheese on their heads?
This season, though, is finally different. The cardiac Bears won the NFC North under first-year head coach Ben Johnson, who seems to hate the Packers as much as I do. The Bears finally have a real quarterback.
But just when it seems like things are good, there stood the Packers, waiting to knock the Bears out of the playoffs like they did when the Bears won the division in 2010. They were ready to ruin the entire season.
They might as well have gone 1-16 if they lost to the Packers in the playoffs. All those come-from-behind wins would be meaningless. The Dec. 20 overtime win over the Packers would have been wiped off the books.
Except, this time the Packers didn’t ruin the season. It just looked like they would when they jumped out to a 21-3 halftime lead. It just looked that way when the Packers led 21-6 after three quarters.
But the Bears pulled off their biggest playoff comeback in franchise history, ending Green Bay’s season with a 31-27 victory.
The way the game went and who they beat just might make this the Bears’ biggest victory since their only Super Bowl win, which was 40 years ago this month. This win exercised all the Packers demons. All of them. It was bigger than the Red Sox making that legendary comeback against the Yankees in 2004.
The win, and how it was won, was just that special. It made me so happy on so many levels, but I can’t make Maizee, her mom or sister see why.
Because of the bad scheduling by the NFL, we took Maizee out to dinner with one of her best friends the night before her birthday. I figured that we’d get cake and ice cream, and we could celebrate while the game was on the next night. I figured that this time I was going to be calm during the game, for a change.
I figured wrong. The game was crazy. I was crazy. I yelled. I cursed. I paced. I celebrated with my son. I was way more of a lunatic than usual during a Bears game.
Had I not been able to watch the game, though, I would have been a billion times worse. I don’t think I could have handle it. The anxiety might have literally killed me.
I know. It doesn’t make sense, but it is true all the same.
On the same night, one of my Bears fans friends had to go to his nephew’s wedding. There was no TV, but people were watching on their phones.
If my nephew was getting married that night, I would have sent him a card.
I could miss big baseball games for family occasions, but not the Bears in the playoffs. Not against Green Bay.
In October of 2008, my brother made the selfish decision to get married and have his wedding reception at the rodeo grounds, where there were no televisions, on the night of Game 6 of the American League Championship Series. The Red Sox were playing, too.
I am a diehard Red So fan, but I missed that game to be at my brother’s side. If he would have gotten married during a Bears-Packers playoff game, I would have sent him a card.
None of my employers could ever afford me during a regular-season Bears game, let alone a playoff game. George Soros could not afford me then.
So, when I saw the times of the wildcard round playoff games, I made a deal with Maizee. If she would not get mad at me for watching the game on her birthday, then I would split the money I made officiating high school basketball games earlier in the day with her.
I thought it was a fair deal, but it wasn’t. A better dad would have been able to miss that game on his daughter’s 16th birthday. I could not.
My spirit animal will forgive me. I know she will. She probably already does, even if she does not share my joy in the Bears slaying those demons.
I just hope someday she will understand why I had to watch that game, even if I cannot quite understand it myself.
— Bill Foley, who would make a great case study for a phycology professor, can be reached at foles74@gmail.com. Follow him at twitter.com/Foles74 or Bluesky at @foles74.bsky.social. Listen to him on the ButteCast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you find your favorite podcasts.
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Podcast No. 316: Russell Cleveland
Russell Cleveland is a father, small business owner, rancher and Navy veteran who is running for Montana’s first congressional seat.
On top of all that, Russ is a former Montana Tech football player who is the defensive coordinator for the high school football team in St. Regis. Last fall, Russ helped lead the Tigers as they advanced to the second round of the Montana Class C 8-player playoffs.
He was the first candidate to announce in what is becoming a crowded field of Democratic hopefuls looking to unseat incumbent Republican Ryan Zinke. Since last April, Russ has been traveling the western half of the state to have important conversations with Montanans.
Russ is running a true grassroots campaign. He is refusing to accept dark money and money from political action committees. He is talking to the people about important issues, like fixing healthcare, improving affordability and ending corruption.
On Friday, I met with Russ inside the vault at the Metals Sports Bar & Grill for a fun, and important conversation.
Listen in as Russ talks about the issues that are so important to most of the people of Montana. Listen in as he talks about his campaign, and how he is getting by without the big bucks the shady sources.
Listen in as Russ talks about how he and his wife Kate lost their 13-year-daughter Madison to leukemia and how that tragedy helped fuel his desire to move back to Montana and get involved in helping others.
Listen in to hear how playing football for legendary Montana Tech coach Bob Green and living in the Mining City helped shape the person Russ is today. Listen in to hear how you can join Russ’s campaign.
Today’s podcast is presented by Thriftway Super Stops. Download the TLC app and start saving today. This episode is also available on YouTube:
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Leskovar Honda Athletes of the Week: Jordyn Samson and Mitch Verlanic
Butte Central basketball player Jordyn Samson and Butte High basketball player Mitch Verlanic are this week’s Leskovar Honda Athletes of the Week.
The honors come after the Bulldogs and Maroons went 2-0 on the week.
Samson, a 5-foot-7 eighth-grade guard, receives the girls’ honor. She scored a total of 28 points as BC beat Anaconda and Stevensville. She scored 12 points to help lead the Maroons to a 37-22 win over Anaconda Thursday at the Snake Pit. Less than 48 hours later, Samson scored 16 points to lead the Maroons to a 58-23 win over Stevensville at the Maroon Activities Center.
Even though she has yet to take a high school class, Samson is averaging 14.8 points per game for the varsity team.
Verlanic, a 6-foot senior, takes home the boys’ accolades after helping lead the Bulldogs to a 2-0 weekend in Kalispell. Verlanic, who is a top defensive player for the Bulldogs, scored a total of 25 points in wins at Flathead and Glacier.
He sank three 3-pointers and scored 13 points as the Bulldogs beat Flathead 75-48 Friday. The next day, Verlanic buried four 3-pointers and scored 12 key points in a 72-57 win over Glacier. Verlanic had totaled 24 points through Butte High’s first five games. The Bulldogs are 7-0 for the first time since 1990.
For the fourth year, Leskovar Honda, home of the non-commission sales staff that always has your back, is teaming up with the ButteCast to honor the finest student-athletes from the Mining City to encourage more children to get up, get out and try all kinds of sports and activities.
The photo of Samson was provided by Jacqueline Photography. The photo of Verlanic courtesy Alycia Holland Photography.
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KC basketball schedule
Following is the Knights of Columbus Athletic Club’s four-man basketball schedule for the week of Jan. 12.
Monday
7 p.m. — Poi Time vs. ButteSports
8 p.m. — Someday Starters vs. HoopballasTuesday
7 p.m. — Jellyfam vs. Someday Starters
8 p.m. — Everett-Cook Law vs. Kenworthy
9 p.m. — Everett-Cook Law vs. Poi TimeWednesday
7 p.m. — Jellyfam vs. Hoopballas
8 p.m. — Washington Generals vs. KenworthyThursday
7 p.m. — City Boys vs. ButteSports
8 p.m. — City Boys vs. Washington Generals
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Bulldogs grab another Kalispell sweep
KALISPELL — The Butte High Bulldogs picked up another sweep of a Kalispell school Saturday.
Less than 24 hours after the Bulldogs took two from Flathead, they swept Glacier in a Western AA doubleheader. The Butte girls won 70-37 before the boys rolled their record to 7-0 with a 72-57 victory.
Both Bulldog teams are now 2-0 in conference play. The Butte girls moved above .500 at 4-3 overall. Butte High will take on the Helena school next week.
The boys head to Capital on Thursday before playing host to Helena High on Saturday. Butte’s girls will host Capital Thursday and head to Helena High on Saturday.
BOYS
Butte High 72, Glacier 57
The Bulldogs pulled off the Kalispell sweep for the third straight season.This time, Butte High had to come from behind to keep their record perfect. The Wolfpack led 29-27 at halftime, but the Bulldogs outscored Glacier 45-28 after the break.
Hudson Luedtke, who entered the trip with a sore ankle, scored 29 points to lead a Bulldog effort that saw four Butte players reach double figures. He scored 16 points in the second half.
Rhett Arntson scored 13 points for the Dogs, while Cayde Stajcar and Mitch Verlanic each scored 12. Brady Hanson tossed in six points.
Ryan Hanson, Raeder Grey, Kendel Noctor and James Pearston also contributed for Butte High.
Cooper Pelk scored 17 points to lead the Wolfpack. Asher Knopik added 13.
Butte High is expected to get senior Josh Liston back next week. He missed the last three games with a toe injury.
BUTTE HIGH (7-0, 2-0) — Cade Stajcar 6 0-0 12, Rhett Arntson 4 0-0 13, Hudson Luedtke 9 9-11 29, Mitch Verlanic 4 0-0 12, Brady Hanson 2 2-2 6, James Pearson 0 0-0 0, Kendel Noctor 0 0-0 0, Raeder Grey 0 0-2 0, Ryan Hanson 0 0-0 0. Totals 26 11-16 72.
GLACIER — Copper Pelc 6 3-8 17, Ethan Kastelitz 2 0-0 6, Talis Pitts 2 3-5 8, Asher Knopik 5 5-7 13, Carter Knopik 2 2-4 7, Tate Kahler 0 0-0 0, Hudson Kastelitz 1 0-0 3, Ryne Gillette 1 1-1 3, Hunter Daniels 0 0-0 0, Blake Pittman 0 0-0 0. Totals 18 14-25 57.
Butte 10 17 21 24 — 72
Glacier 14 15 13 15 — 57
3-point goals — Butte 9 (Verlanic 4, Arntson 3, Luedtke 2), Glacier 7 (Pelc 2, E. Kastelitz 2, H. Kasterlitz, Pitts, C. Knopik). Fouls — Butte 15, Glacier 17. Fouled out — A. Knopik. Technical — Butte bench.GIRLS
Butte High 70, Glacier 37Butte High’s girls made it a 2-0 trip, and they made it look easy.
The Graham sisters — Cadence and Ellison — each scored 16 points to lead the Bulldogs, who took command with a 21-9 first quarter. Butte High led 38-17 at the break.
Ellison Graham knocked down four 3-poitners, while Cadence sank two.
Autumn Clary had what was perhaps her biggest offensive night for the Bulldogs. The defensive menace scored 14 points.
Butte High also got nine points from Allie Becker, eight from Emma Johnson, six from Saege Grey and three from Kendallyn Schad. Avery Barsness, Reese Johnson, Ellie Yates and Stella Callaghan also contributed for the Bulldogs.
Karley Allen scored 14 to lead the Wolfpack.
BUTTE HIGH (4-3, 2-0) — Allie Becker 3 3-4 9, Cadence Graham 6 2-2 16, Autumn Clary 6 1-1 14, Franki Salusso 0 0-0 0, Emma Johnson 4 0-0 8, Ellison Graham 6 0-0 16, Saege Grey 2 2-3 6, Kendallyn Schad 1 1-1 3, Reese Johnson 0 0-0 0, Ellie Yates 0 0-0 0, Stella Callaghan 0 0-0 0, Avery Barsness 0 0-0 0. Totals 27 8-10 72.
GLACIER — Lucy Holloway 0 0-0 0, Karley Allen 5 2-2 15, Miley Fritz 1 0-2 2, Remi Osler 3 0-0 6, Olivia Warriner 1 0-0 2, Nika Wagerin 2 0-0 4, Addison Brisendine 0 0-0 0, Kiera Lindsay 0 0-0 0, Alauna Hagen 1 1-2 4. Totals 15 3-6 37.
Butte 21 17 14 15 — 70
Glacier 9 8 10 10 — 37
3-point goals — Butte 7 (E. Graham 4, C. Graham 2, Clary), Glacier 4 (Allen 3, Hagen). Fouls — Butte 11, Glacier 9. Fouled out — none. Technicals — none. -
Butte Central opens conference play with convincing wins over Stevi
Butte Central’s basketball teams opened Southwestern A play Saturday with convincing wins over Stevensville.
The Maroon boys went on the road to beat the Yellowjackets 74-39. Central’s girls won 59-23 at the Maroon Activities Center.
Central’s teams will be back in action Tueday against Frenchtown. The girls will be on the road, and the boys will play at home.
BOYS
Butte Central 74, Stevensville 39
STEVENSVILLE — The Maroons outscored the Yellowjackets 27-8 in the first quarter and never looked back. BC led 47-16 at halftime.Joshua Sutton sank four 3-pointers and scored 22 points to lead the Maroons, who connected on nine shots from behind the arc. Noah Sutton scored 10 points, while Ryan Peoples, Cade Kelly and Henly Mansanti each scored nine points in the win.
GG Fantini scored seven points, Jaxon Hiatt tossed in six, and Burkley Lakkala netted two. Gunner O’Brien, Carson Gillis, Teghan Sparks and Grady Button also contributed for the Maroons.
BUTTE CENTRAL (6-1, 1-0) — Ryan Peoples 4 1-1 9, Cade Kelly 3 1-2 9, Joshua Sutton 7 4-4 22, GG Fantini 3 1-1 7, Jaxen Hiatt 3 0-0 6, Noah Sutton 3 2-4 10, Henly Mansanti 4 0-0 9, Burkley Lakkala 0 2-2 2, Gunner O’Brien 0 0-0 0, Carsen Gillis 0 0-0 0, Teghan Sparks 0 0-0 0, Grady Button 0 0-0 0. Totals 27 7-11 74.
STEVENSVILLE — Kaden Wyant 3 3-5 10, McCoy Endres 3 2-4 8, Clay McKay 1 0-0 3, Trenton Scharff 1 0-0 3, Lucas Eberhardt 0 1-3 1, Taeshawn Luster 4 2-8 10, Jack Conrad 0 0-0 0, Kellen Hughes 0 0-0 0, Braedy Hayes 0 0-0 0, Luca Schmidt 1 2-2 4, Zaydon Williams 0 0-0 0. Totals 13 20-22 39.
Central 27 20 20 7 — 74
Stevensville 8 8 19 13 — 39
3-point goals — BC 9 (J. Sutton 4, N. Sutton 2, Kelly 2, Mansanti), Stevi 3 (Wyant, McKay, Scharff. Fouls — BC 22, Stevi 14. Fouled out — Lakkala.GIRLS
Butte Central 59, Stevensville 23
Eighth grader Jordyn Samson had her second big game of the week, scoring 16 points to lead the Maroons to the win.BC led throughout, taking a 14-5 advantage after one quarter before leading 32-12 at halftime.
Zayonna Otherbull scored 11 points for the Maroons, and Arika Stajcar added nine points while playing with a sprained ankle.
The Maroons also got six points from Rylee Forbes, four from Evyn Smith, three from Jaedyn Maldonado and Mila Carriger, and two from Caden Tippett, Marly Mansanti and Luci Fantini. Braelynn Schelin added one point for the Maroons, whose defense was relentless the whole way.
Addi Drye scored 12 points to pace the Yellowjackets.
STEVENSVILLE — Addi Drye 4 3-6 12, Hadlie Leonard 1 1-2 4, Emma Tan 0 1-2 1, Kayden Tolley 1 1-3 3, Marley Gilleard 0 0-2 0, Talyn Bean 0 1-1 1, Nevaeh Meeder 0 0-0 0, Josie Randles 1 0-0 2. Totals 7 7-17 23.
BUTTE CENTRL (3-4, 1-0) — Jordyn Samson 6 2-4 16, Zayonna Otherbull 4 3-5 11, Rylee Forbes 3 0-0 6, Braelynn Schelin 0 1-4 1, Arika Stajcar 4 1-1 9, Luci Fantini 0 2-2 2, Jaedyn Maldonado 1 1-2 3, Natalie Osterman 0 0-0 0, Marly Mansanti 1 0-0 2, Mila Carriger 2 0-0 3, Evyn Smith 2 0-0 4, Caden Tippett 1 0-0 2. Totals 23 8-8 59.
Stevensville 5 7 4 7 — 23
Central 14 18 13 14 — 59
3-point goals — Stevi 2 (Drye, Leonard), BC 3 (Samson 2, Carriger). Fouls — Stevi 19, BC 19. Fouled out — Tan, Gilleard. Technicals — none. -
Bulldogs open conference play with sweep of Flathead
KALISPELL — The Butte High boys’ and girls’ basketball teams opened Western AA Conference play with wins over Kalispell Flathead Friday night.
Butte’s girls beat the Bravettes 40-25 before the Bulldog boys rolled their record to 6-0 with a 75-48 rout of the Braves.
The Bulldogs will stay the night in Kalispell to play Glacier on Saturday. The girls play at 2 p.m., with the boys following at about 3:30.
BOYS
Butte High 75, Flathead 48The Bulldogs outscored the Braves 48-26 in the second half, busting open a game they led 27-22 at the half.
Hudson Luedtke continued his great senior campaign with a game-high 29 points. He sank five 3-pointers and registered his first dunk in a varsity game.
Bulldog coach Matt Luedtke cited the play of Mitch Verlanic. The senior scored 13 points, knocking down three 3-pointers.
Butte High also got six points apiece from Cayde Stajcar and Rhett Arntson, five from Brady Hanson, and four from Raeder Grey and James Pearston. Kaleb Celli, Koda Schleeman and Ryan Hanson also contributed for the Bulldogs.
Hunter Fann’s nine points paced the Braves. Ben Reichner and Reece Brotherton each scored seven, while Eli Coopman scored six.
BUTTE HIGH (6-0, 1-0) — Cayde Stajcar 3 0-2 6, Rhett Arntson 2 0-0 6, Mitch Verlanic 5 0-0 13, Brady Hanson 1 3-6 5, Hudson Luedtke 8 8-9 29, Kaleb Celli 0 0-0 0, James Pearston 2 0-0 4, Koda Schleeman 0 0-0 0, Raeder Grey 2 0-2 4, Ryan Hanson 0 0-2 0. Totals 26 11-21 75.
FLATHEAD (1-4, 0-1) — Eli Coopman 2 2-2 6, Ben Reichner 3 0-3 7, Lance Schneiter 1 3-6 5, Reece Brotherton 3 0-4 7, Boston Case 2 0-0 4, Hunter Fann 4 1-2 9, Kyler Kossman 2 0-0 4, Leum Sasbury 1 0-0 2, Sam McConnell 2 0-0 4. Totals 20 6-17 48.
Butte 19 8 22 26 — 75
Flathead 11 11 15 11 — 48
3-point goals — Butte 12 (Luedtke 5, Verlanic 3, Noctor 2, Arntson 2), Flathead 2 (Brotherton, Reichner). Fouls — Butte 17, Flathead 17. Technical fouls — Butte, team.
GIRLS
Butte High 40, Flathead 25
Defense traveled with the Bulldog girls.Butte took a 22-17 lead into halftime and then took command in the third quarter, outscoring Flathead 12-1.
Cadence Graham poured in four 3-poitners and scored 16 points to pace the Bulldog offense. Allie Becker added eight points for Butte, which got six from Franki Salusso, four from Autumn Clary and two apiece from Ellison Grham, Saege Grey and Emma Johnson.
Kendallyn Schad also contributed for the Bulldogs, who evened their overall record at 3-3.
Brynn Kossman’s seven points led the Bravettes.
BUTTE HIGH (3-3, 1-0) — Allie Becker 2 3-4 8, Cadence Graham 4 4-8 16, Autumn Clary 2 00 4, Franki Salusso 3 0-0 6, Emma Johnson 1 0-0 2, Ellison Graham 1 0-0 2, Saege Grey 1 0-0 2, Kendallyn Schad 0 0-0 0. Totals 14 7-12 40.
FLATHEAD (0-5, 0-1) — Makenna Aldrich 2 0-0 4, Tayler Greene 0 0-0 0, Caitlin Converse 1 1-2 3, Brynn Kossman 3 1-2 7, Grace Gall 2 0-0 5, Lexi Herion 1 0-2 2, Gracie Mae Kilmer 0 1-2 1, Teagan Flint 0 0-0 0, Reese Rosenberg 1 0-0 3. Totals 10 3-8 25.
Butte 12 10 12 6 — 40
Flathead 8 9 1 7 — 25
3-point goals — Butte 5 (C. Graham 4, Becker), Flathead 2 (Gall, Resenberg). Fouls — Butte 15, Flathead 15. Fouled out — none. Technicals — none.
The ButteCast with Bill Foley 